Does the Bible say there is anything wrong with gambling?

Question

Please if you could just give me Bible scriptures and not your personal opinion.

Answer 1

Yes. Do not do it. It is a sin. But if you do sin and gamble, make sure you give money to your church like the person who gave 3 million dollar lottery ticket to the church

Answer 2

We are told to be good stewards of our resources that the Lord gives us.  I would say that recreational gambling for entertainment isn't sin.

And it isn't a sin to be a hardcore gambler either, but why would you want to be that anyway?

Answer 3

The soldiers did roll dice to see who would get Jesus' clothes.

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Luke 23:34

So whichever soldier ended up with Jesus' raiment made out pretty good.

Answer 4

Heiress of mystery has it right. It is the love of money that is wrong. People are in the gambling business because they love money.

Answer 5

Nope, Jesus had a gambling addiction. Bet you didn't know that?

Answer 6

1 Timothy ..:for money is the root of all evil.."  I cannot recall any specific verses pertaining to gambling, no casinos then- lol , but seriously, most are about how money is evil- why is money evil? because it makes people greedy and greed leads to more sin, like killing for $ etc...all these things are against God.

Many verses about money though.

Answer 7

It is "Institutionalized Covetiousness". (There is no trust in God's providence.)  How can one truly love their neighbor when they are taking/robbing from them??

Answer 8

No, it does not.

Answer 9

What Is Wrong With Gambling?

"Around 290,000 Australians are problem gamblers and account for over $3 billion in losses annually. This is disastrous not only for these problem gamblers, but also for the estimated 1.5 million people they directly affect as a result of bankruptcy, divorce, suicide and lost time at work."—J. Howard, prime minister of Australia, 1999.

JOHN, mentioned in the preceding article, became a problem gambler.* He moved to Australia, where he got married to Linda, also a gambler. John's addiction grew worse. He says: "I progressed from buying lottery tickets to betting on racehorses and gambling at casinos. I ended up gambling nearly every day. I sometimes gambled away my whole paycheck and had nothing left with which to pay the mortgage or feed the family. Even when I won a lot of money, I continued to gamble. It was the thrill of winning that hooked me."

Individuals like John are not uncommon. Whole societies seem to have caught gambling fever. The magazine USA Today said that between 1976 and 1997, there was a staggering 3,200-percent increase in the amount wagered on legalized gambling in the United States.

"Gambling used to be considered a moral and social evil. Today it's a socially acceptable pastime," states the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail. Identifying one reason for this change in public attitude, the paper says: "The image makeover is the direct result of what may be the most expensive and most sustained government-funded advertising campaign in Canadian history." What impact have efforts to promote gambling had on some societies?

  

The human cost of problem gambling includes families with no money for food

   An Epidemic of Problem Gambling

According to an estimate made by the Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions, in 1996 there were "7.5 million American adult problem and pathological gamblers" and an additional "7.9 million American adolescent problem and pathological gamblers." These figures were included in a report compiled by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), which was presented to the U.S. Congress. The report stated that the number of people with gambling problems in America might actually be significantly higher than recorded.

Because of job loss, diminished physical health, the payment of unemployment benefits, and the cost of treatment programs, problem gambling is estimated to cost U.S. society billions of dollars every year. This figure, though, does little to portray the human cost of problem gambling—the cost to families, friends, and workmates, resulting from theft, embezzlement, suicide, domestic violence, and child abuse. An Australian study found that up to ten people can be directly affected by every problem gambler. A report from the National Research Council in the United States says that up to "50 percent of spouses and 10 percent of children experienced physical abuse from the pathological gambler."

  

Among young people, gambling is increasing at an alarming rate

   A Contagious Addiction

Like some diseases, problem gambling can seem to spread from parent to child. "Children of compulsive gamblers are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs, and have an increased risk of developing problem or pathological gambling themselves," states the NGISC report. The report also warns that "adolescent gamblers are more likely than adults to develop problem and pathological gambling."

Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, director of the Harvard Medical School's Division on Addiction Studies, says: "There is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that illicit gambling among young people is increasing at a rate at least proportional to the opportunity to gamble legally." As for the potential for pathological gamblers to abuse the technology of the Internet, he says: "As smoking crack cocaine changed the cocaine experience, I think electronics is going to change the way gambling is experienced."

The gambling trade is often portrayed as supplying harmless fun. But for adolescents, gambling can be as addictive as any illicit drug and can lead to criminal behavior. A survey in the United Kingdom found that among adolescents who gambled, "46 percent stole from their family" to support their habit.

Despite the foregoing facts, one influential gambling association justifies the promotion of gambling by saying: "The vast majority of Americans who enjoy gaming experience no problem whatsoever." Even if you feel that gambling does not adversely affect your financial or physical health, what impact does gambling have on your spiritual health? Are there good reasons why you should avoid gambling? The following article will consider these questions.

Children of compulsive gamblers have an increased risk of becoming problem gamblers themselves

The Real Message in Lottery Ads



"Promoting lotteries . . . may be viewed as values education, teaching that gambling is

Answer 10

gambling is a sin

Answer 11

I don't think so, but I heard a preacher once say that gambling was stealing.  He said that even though both parties were volunteering in the activity, since there was no exchange of goods, it was stealing.  "Get your money for nothing"

Answer 12

dont listen to any of the other answers! heres the scriptures showing that gambling is wrong. 1 corinthians 5:10,11, also 6:10. also 1 timothy 3:8. hope this helps :)

Answer 13

No the bible does not say gambling is wrong but many will condemn it by using various scriptures.

Like the romans gambled for his clothes instead of giving them to his mother. It was wrong for the romans to gamble so we should not.

Some say God said man was to work for his money not play games of chance.

I see nothing wrong with it unless it becomes a obsession that controls you. The games are always stacked against the player and not fair odds. The games are meant for people to lose. In a casino or playing the lottery they are done to get money and only a few will win the prize.

Its funny how people condemn the lottery but watch r-rated or worst things on TV and have no problem with the violence and language in it.

Answer 14

I think the Bible says that the disciples drew lots to determine who would be the new leader after Jesus was crucified by the Romans.

Other than that, I think the Bible is quite unclear on it.

Answer 15

You are not going to find this in the Bible, God expects people to have some brain function without being told every little thing.

Answer 16

This is the best answer I can find...It has been one that has puzzled me for a while.  Hope it helps.

http://www.gotquestions.org/gambling-sin...